Day: February 3, 2020

Exodus 17:8-13 – “Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 And Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus, his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” NASB

I love accounts in the Bible that reveal that our victory as the Body of Christ and the Army of God is never solo. We need each other in life and in our spiritual warfare. Yes, we are individually responsible for our actions and individually accountable for what we do or do not do, but we are not islands in the ocean of life. We need each other to fully become what we can be and to achieve the victory that can be ours.

One of the greatest tragedies in churches, especially smaller churches is adopting the mentality, “let clerical George do it.” What I mean by that is the pastor is viewed as a one-man show. He is the jack of all trades. He is not only the overseer but expected to do virtually everything. I know too many pastors who have become so accustomed to that mentality that they are terrified in relinquishing any control and delegating any authority to others. They burn out while to burn the candle for the Lord. That is tragic and not what God intended.

I refer to Moses’ father-in-law’s advice. He instructed his son-in-law that what he was doing was bad for himself and the nation. He gave him a plan that was in the heart of God and demonstrated by Jesus and the early church. He was to select capable men or women in our day, teach them and then release them to function. If a leader assigns responsibility without releasing with the authority to carry out that function, failure is guaranteed.

Here, Israel was fighting Amalek, which is used in the Bible as a type of the flesh. They were fighting Amalek at Rephidim, the place of no water. That is a very powerful picture if we use the typology of Amalek being representative of the flesh and Rephidim being representative of drought (spiritually). Get the picture in your mind and you can see a powerful victory in unity and unified efforts.

We need to look no further than the words of Galatians 6:1-2 – “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burden’s, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.” Paul addressed this reality in Romans 14:7 when he called to our attention that we are not islands. Jesus called us His Body and the Bible makes it clear in the Scripture that the body needs all its parts to function fully and efficiently.

When we are struggling, we need to reach out to those who are walking in victory. Do not reach out to someone who is in the muck with you, they will bring you down. Reach out to someone on the mountaintop not someone in the lowest of the valley. When we reach out to those who are struggling, we are to do so with the view of restoration in mind and share with them how the Lord brought us to victory. Share comfort, hope, and expectation.

When the church adopts a view of genuinely caring for each other and becomes a body not just a gathering of people, we will see incredible victory over the darkness of the devil. We will see an influx of souls into the kingdom because hurting people will gravitate to where there is real help. If the church presents an image to the world that we are in the same condition they are, hopeless, depressed, defeated, and isolated, why would they want what we have?

Remember the promise of scripture, “We are more than conquerors through Him that loves us.” Remember the promise, “All things are possible to them that believe” and “All things are possible with God.” If I can encourage one heart, my day is filled with joy. If I can break the power of darkness in one life, I am overjoyed. If I can be a shoulder to lean on to any brother or sister or anyone, I am thrilled. My purpose is Christ’s purpose and that purpose is “destroying the works of the devil.”

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him, and may your day be filled with joy and victory!